Sports�n�All � Simon Jones going to Worcestershire�.could signal the beginning of a comeback. Let�s hope.

After a short break, Sports�n�All makes its comeback. Not quite as eagerly awaited as Simon Jones, but it�s back nonetheless. And what�s been catching my attention recently Certainly Lewis-Hamilton�s Henman-esque efforts to take his title challenge down to the wire haven�t slipped by me. It seems to be a British trait to take a commanding lead and gradually reduce it down until you end up scrapping manically at the last second. I still have confidence in him though, as long as he keeps his focus.

The sporting event of the week, perhaps the month and potentially the year is undoubtedly��the Merseyside Derby. No not really, it�s the Rugby world Cup final, which sees England�s valiant effort to maintain their crown come to and end. Whether it�s in a blaze of glory or a whimper, nothing can take away from the sheer scale of the achievement by this team in getting to the final. I certainly never expected them to get even remotely close, particularly after their woeful performance against the USA, which was depressing in its ineptitude. But here we are, within spitting distance of glory and with a team that had been universally written off before the tournament even started. Granted it will take a performance of epic proportions to pull it off, but this team have proven itself to be at its best when its back is against the wall. So come on England, let�s have one last charge!

Martin O�Neill has been given the green flag by his club to become England manager should he be asked according to reports. Now this seems odd to me. Surely this should only happen once (if ) he�s been asked. As far as I know McClaren has the full backing of the FA at the moment and there hasn�t been an announcement that England will be getting a new manager. Don�t get me wrong I think he would do a good job for England but I don�t see what good it does to make announcements like that when there are still games left in the qualifying group.

I am well aware that this could simply be some journalist out there getting a bit overenthusiastic and reporting a rumour, so I don�t presume that Aston Villa are undermining Steve McClaren. Either way it looks ominous for England�s chances of qualifying for Europe 2008. It�s not even a question of playing well because we are relying on other teams to slip up. I can�t really be too positive about a campaign that has seen us fall at the first and second hurdles against teams we should�ve beaten easily. As much as it pains me to say it, but I think we deserve to go out.

I don�t often touch on golf. It�s not that I hate it, indeed I have been known to watch the Ryder Cup quite avidly. It�s just that it doesn�t hold as much interest for me as other sports. One achievement this week did catch my eye however. Ernie Els won the World Match Play title for the seventh time last weekend. Not only did he win, but he comfortably eased past Angel Cabrera 6&4 in the final, which not only pocketed him �1 million but also put him at the top of the European Order of Merit. I was fortunate to watch most of the final round during some down-time and I have to confess I enjoyed it. Els� short game was absolutely flawless and even his often slip-shod putting was on fire. It serves as a reminder of just how good he could be if he could get some consistency together.

All this serves to announce the end of this Sports�n�All. It just leaves me to say that I�m disappointed that Andrew Strauss has been dropped from the test squad. I can�t pretend that I�m surprised or that I disagree with the decision. He�s been horribly out of form for a while now, so some time out of the spotlight will hopefully unleash the demons and get him back in the swing of things (no pun intended). But that�s it, I�m done here and I�ll touch base with you all next week.